Blair: still not learning the lessons of Iraq 2003
The Guardian has reported remarks that Tony Blair made at a lunch on Friday to the effect that Britain should always support the US’s imperial ambitions come what may. That is exactly what he did with Iraq in 2003 (a war Keir Starmer opposed). He seems to have either forgotten or still prefers to ignore the outcome of the lengthy Chilcott Inquiry which reported in 2016. It found that there had been major issues with Blair’s position.
Given that US planes are in fact using UK bases both in England and the Middle East to prosecute Trump’s war with Iran it might queried what the issue is.
In reality Trump and Netanyahu (who has disappeared from view) has very few supporters for his Iran adventure and clearly thought strapping the UK to a warplane would help. There is a partial parallel with Harold Wilson’s position on the Vietnam War. He supported the US but declined efforts by President Johnson to get him to commit British troops. Like Starmer he did allow the US to use British military bases.
Blair is still not learning from the history of the Iraq War and clearly does not want to. Starmer appears mindful of it, or has been reminded of it. Protests will need to keep reminding him
Guardian 8th March
At a private lunch event on Friday, the former Labour prime minister said Keir Starmer “should have backed America from the very beginning” and let the Trump administration use British airbases, adding: “If they are your ally and they are an indispensable cornerstone for your security … you had better show up when they want you to.”
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